Gràdh geal mo chridh’(Fair Love of My Heart)- Eriskay Love Lilt (Bheir Me O)

 

This is the traditional version of the song which has become known as the "Eriskay Love Lilt".

 

Eriskay Love Lilt or When I'm Lonely Dear White Heart

Eriskay Love Song

Eriskay Love Lilt (Bheir Me O)

Written By: Unknown

 

Jean Redpath sings "Eriskay love lilt" - LIVE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdRvP6QR_4w 

Eriskay is a small island of only three square miles, off the coast of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Prince Charles Edward Stewart first stepped on Scottish soil on Eriskay in 1745. 

 

Eriskay Love Lilt

Chorus
Bheir me o, horo van o
Bheir me o, horo van ee
Bheir me o, o horo ho
Sad am I, without thee.

 

 

Thou'rt the music of my heart;
Harp of joy, o cruit mo chruidh;
Moon of guidance by night;
Strength and light thou'rt to me.

Chorus

 

 

In the morning, when I go
To the white and shining sea,
In the calling of the seals
Thy soft calling to me.

Chorus

 

 

When I'm lonely, dear white heart,
Black the night and wild the sea,
By love's light, my foot finds
The old pathway to me.

Chorus

 

Eriskay Love Lilt or When I'm Lonely Dear White Heart

 

Ishbel MacAskill - Gradh Geal Mo Chridh (Fair Love Of My Heart)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfDtTHC8BoY 

 

Gràdh geal mo chridh’
(Fair Love of My Heart)
Taken from liner notes and a personal transcription of Ishbel MacAskill's performance on the CD - Gaelic Scotland

[Scots-Gaelic]

[Rough Phonetic]

'N àm bhith cromadh ris a'ghleann Thàinig snaidhm air mo chridh' Bho nach d'thug thu dhomh do làmh 'S mi'n dùil nach fhàgadh tu mi [Curfá] Bheir mi ò hu o hò Bheir mi ò hu o hì Bheir mi ò hu o hò 'S mi fo bhròn 's tu gam dhìth Dhèanainn trabhadh dhuit is buan Chumainn suas thu gun dith Bheirinn as a' ghreabhal chruaidh Do mo luaidh teachd an tìr [Curfá] Ged nach eil sinn fhathast pòsd' Tha mi'n dòchas gum bi Fhad' 's a mhaireas mo dhà dhòrn Cha bhith lòn oirnn a dhìth [Curfá] Dh'fhàg thu sìlteach mo shùil Dh'fhàg thu tùrsach mo chridh' Dh'fhàg thu tana-glas mo shnuadh 'S thug thu ghruag bhàrr mo chìnn [Curfá]

Nowm vee crom-Eg rEEsh egg-l-awn Hannig sn-eyem air mo xh'ree Vo nach' doo goo gho doe lawhv Smee-n'ool nawch ahg-ahh too me-e[Chorus] Vair-mEE OH HOO o hoe Vair-mEE OH HOO ~o~ HEE Vair-mEE oh_hoo_o~Hoe Smee-foe vroan stew gahm yEE Yehn-neen(g) traw-egg oot is bu-on xHumin(g) su-ahs-oo gan jEE Verin(g) ass egg-rav-al croo-eye Doe m' loow-eyed tchack 'n tEEr [Chorus] GEdth nawk-hel shin(g) hawst post Ha meen-doh-xhess gem bee Aahd-ze var-as mo ga gorn xHa vee lo-an oarn-in(g) ah yee [Chorus] GHahg oo shil-tachk mo hool GHahg oo toor-sawk mo cree GHahg oo tanah-glass mo noo-a(d) S ug oo groo-ahg var mo xhkeen-in(g) [Chorus] [ * "xh" = raspy 'ch' sound like heard in 'loch' ]

 

1] On turning to the glen, My heart was enthralled Since you did not give your hand I hoped you would not leave me.	¢] Bheir mi o hu o ho Bheir mi o hu o hi Bheir mi o hu o ho I am sad and you're not with me.	2] I would plough for you and reap, I would support you and you would want for nothing, I would take from the hard gravel A living for my love.
3] Although we are not yet married, I hope we will be. As long as there is strength in my two fists, we will want for nothing.	4] You left my eye tearful, you left my heart broken, you left me with a sickly pallor My hair is thinned.	[Beautiful songs always seem to have the saddest words.]

 

Ishbel MacAskill 

14 March 1941 – 31 March 2011
Ishbel MacAskill(née MacIver) was one of the leading singers of Gaelic today. She was from the Island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and was raised in the tradition of Gaelic song, which is very strong there. Much of her singing was unaccompanied, in the traditional fashion.